The Witch Elm
A Novel
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3.5 • 96 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A NEW YORK TIMES BEST THRILLER OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
“Tana French’s best and most intricately nuanced novel yet.” —The New York Times
An “extraordinary” (Stephen King) and “mesmerizing” (LA Times) standalone novel from the master of crime and suspense.
Toby is a happy-go-lucky charmer who’s dodged a scrape at work and is celebrating with friends when the night takes a turn that will change his life—he surprises two burglars who beat him and leave him for dead. Struggling to recover from his injuries, beginning to understand that he might never be the same man again, he takes refuge at his family’s ancestral home to care for his dying uncle Hugo. Then a skull is found in the trunk of an elm tree in the garden—and as detectives close in, Toby is forced to face the possibility that his past may not be what he has always believed.
A spellbinding standalone from one of the best suspense writers working today, The Witch Elm asks what we become, and what we’re capable of, when we no longer know who we are.
Customer Reviews
Just ok
I didn’t find the story to be terribly interesting and while the characters are well described, the book is very drawn out, wordy, and rather dull.
An Interesting Story, But Poorly Written
The Witch Elm was suggested to me by others, who know that I very much enjoy The Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osman. Unfortunately, this books does not look good in comparison.
The story concept is good, and there is a nice, teasing orbit that the plot takes around the main event. One can sympathize with all of the characters, but most are happily imperfect.
That said, the writing is clumsy and the story suffers for it. Dialogue in particular is stited, drawn out, and so character interactions don’t reveal the back story or character motives and feelings in a very natural maner. Instead, the dialogues are often a bit tiring to read.
The first 150 pages or so should have been treated to a pair of scissors by an editor; so little of the first half is relevant to the rest of the book that the loss of 100 pages would improve things immensely.
Overall, a good idea spoiled by a lack of writing refinement and editing. What could have been an intriguing read to look forward to every evening becomes a test of endurance and of diminishing interest in the characters fate.
Tense as Piano Wire
Reading this book is like desperately yourself awake from a stress dream only to be immediately kicked in the throat.
That’s a compliment.
French’s best novel, and it’s a very high bar.